Mechanic&#39;s horse



June 16,` 1925. 1,542,048

.J. FoREsTl-:R

MECHNICS` HORSEv VFiled Aug. e. 1923 si@ Elma Patented `lune 16, 1925*.

JAMES FORESTIER, YQBK, N. Y.

MncHANics Honsn Application filed August 6, 1923. Serial No. 655,902.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES Fonnsrnn, a subject of the King of England, residing at New York city, borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented cert-ain new and useful Improvements in Mechanics I-Iorses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to appliances or apparatus for use by mechanics such as masons carpenters, or the like, and has par ticufar reference to what are comm-only called horses, a horse of this character being a device made up principally ofcertain pieces of wood assembled in such form asto` make a support either for the workman himself or for the work upon which he :is operating.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide Va horse of the character suggested having peculiarly devised means and mechanism for assembling or attaching the body and leg portions of the horse for the purpose of rapidity and ease of assemblage, strength of the joints after assemblage, facility of `knocking down the construction for transportatioi'i or storage purposes, and providing an intermediate step between the ground and the top of the device as well as other features ofconstruction and advantage as will be pointed out hereinafter and more specifically claimed at the end of the description.

yINith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention -consists in `the yarrangement and combination of Vparts hereinafter described and claimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the exact details of construction disclosed or suggested herein, still for the purpose of illustrating a practical embodiment thereof reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same parts in the several views,. and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2.

Fig.` 2 is a right'end elevation.

Fig. 3 is a transversesection on the line 33 of Fig. 2. l

Figz is a bottom plan view of the brace connection with the, top beam as seen from the line of Fig. 1.

Figf is an enlarged vperspective view of one ofthe main brackets, indicating also in dot and` dash lines the relation o'fthe top beam and the legs thereto.

`F ig. `6 is a vertical cross sectional `detail both pairs of legsbeing fla-red ,in a similardirection for the sake of maximum rigidity and stability of the construction.

One of the principal 4features ofnovelt-y of Vthis device lies in the bracket mechanism for assembling or attaching the legs to the beam for the sake of maximum strength, `facility of assemblage, and relative lightness -of materials used. f

In the form illustrated each bracketl?) is suitable manner as by casting, drop forging, or otherwise, and the-sameincludes aniupper portion constituting a socket or keeper lll into or through which one en d of the beam 10 is projected horizontally. Thefend of the beam may be reduced slightly either to lie flush withthe sides of the socket mem ber so as to give increased strength `forthe center portion of the beam, or if preferred the beam may be inserted without modifying the end portions thereof. In other words, the cross section of the beam may be the same as the cross sectional lspace in the socket. It is preferred, however, for

the topi surface of the socketmember tolie `flush with the top of the beam as clearly indicated in Fig. 1. The bracket is so ccnstructed that preferably the top and bottom panels of the socket 14 are extended hori 16flush with Vthe vertical end of the beam. Also said bottom `panel is extended inward `toward the opposite end of the horse as `the panel 16 Amay be regarded as thei anj chorage shell for the upper ends ofthenlegs.

From the side viewit willbe observed that -the general direction Vof the bracket is slightly-offset from the vertical, correspondmade as asingle piece vof metalv and in any f Zontally and parallel to each other at 15 and l ing to the flare of each pair ot legs from the other. The shell comprises two side panels 18, against and within which the upper ends of the legs are titted, the tops of the legs coming directly against the bottom of the bottom socket panel 16. A pair of straps 19 are connected to the lower ends ot the side panels 18 and extend across the space between them, making strong ties for these partsot the bracket and making additional keeper means for the legs. The parallel space between the straps 19 correspondsto the width ot' the legs.v To hold each pair or' legs at a proper angle with respect to each other and tirmly in place Within the shell portion of the bracket, l provide for the extreme upper end ot each leg a socket 2O formed between the upper portion ot' the side panel 18 and a l-l-shaped rib 21 formed integral with the lower surface of the panel 16. Extending horizontally from each of the straps 19 are a pair of lugs 22 embracing the inner sides ot the legs. The legs are put into place by slipping them directly upward endwise along the side panels 18 until their upper ends are received in the sockets 20. screw 23 may be passed into each leg through the side panel 18 at the hole 9,4 it desired to make a positive-interlock between the parts. Likewise a screw 25 may be passed laterally through the hole 26 in the socket portion ot the bracket into the beam 10 tor holding the beam in the socket 14. Each socket 2O includes also end members 27, making it impossible for the. legs to tilt or move in any direction with respect to the bracket. The

rib constitutes a partition in the upper part ot the shell to form, in connection with the end members Q7, the two sockets 20.

At any desired position below the brackets the legs are additionally strengthened and braced by cross braces Q8. Each ot these braces is made preferably as an endless double loop structure, through each loop 29 oiE which a leg is projected upward and closely embraced. Between the two legs the middle oitl the cross brace is so toi-ined as to come together and a binding bolt 30 passes through the two parts thereof. Each cross brace is so designed as to contorni to the Hare between the legs and so is supported by the legs and prevented vfrom moving downward.

In some instances it is desired to provide additional longitudinalbracing means 'lor the horse, and to this end l pre'lier to employ aconstruction shown at 31, the same comprising a one piece brace attached in a` peculiar manner at its center to the center of the bottom of the beam 10 and having its extreme remote ends bent downward and fitted directly against the contacting portions of the cross braces 28, each bolt 30` passing through such end of the brace 31 as well as through the cross brace. Thereby the main longitudinal brace 3l is lirinly and strongly anchored to the leg braces at both ends.

The means for anchoring the center ot the brace 31 to the beam includes a plate 32 secured to or countersunk within the bottom surta-ce oii the beam 10 and secured thereto as by means of screws 33. rlfhe center of this plate carries a bolt 34 projecting downward therethrough, and the end portions of the plate on opposite sides oi the bolt 34 are struck downward "forming two tongues 35, the bodies ot which are spaced parallel to the plate and 'far enough below the same to receive the adjacent flat portion oi the brace 31. The points oi? the tongues extend laterally in pposite directions, and so in assembling' the construction the center of the brace is brought into place transverse to the beam 10` so that the threaded end of the bolt 34 will be received through a hole in the brace, the brace itself being at this time parallel to and midway between the two tongues 35. The nut is then put upon the bolt 34 and the brace is swung around so as to be brought parallel to the plate 32 and anchored between the tongues and the plate as shown in Fig. 4. The nut will then be tightened on the bell. 34 and the ends of the brace will be locked as above described by means o'lf the bolts 30. Obviously the ends oli the brace will spring sul'- iciently to pass the legs when brought. into position, or the main brace and leg braces may be previously connected. lo each other and then attached at the bolt 34 prior to inserting the legs.

36 indicates an intermediate rail or step preferably midway between the ground and the beam 10, the saine being attached to the legs 11 on one side ol the horse. vFor the ends ot the rail 36 l provide a pair ot cleats or loops 37, the saine being secured to the legs 11 by fasteners such as screws 3S. The rail 36 is so formed as to have its ends Iittcd into the cleats or loops 3i" and preferably so recessed as to be held from endwise movement except as soon to be stated, The lower edge of the rail is preferably shouldered at 39, one shoulder being farther trom the one end than the other. The longer end is first inserted into its cleat iar enough tor the other end to be inserted until its shoulder strikes the cleat and then the rail will be properly positioned. Fasteners such as screws 40 may be passed through the cleats to hold the rail in place.

It will be understood that the horse as now shown and described is exceedingly strong and rigid, relatively light in weight, economical in the amount of material required in its construction, and easily demounted for storage or transportation or for the replacement of worn or damaged parts. Simple len for receiving the beam and comprising top and bottom members extending parallel to each other outward beyond the side portions ot the loop, said bottom member extending i also inward beyond the side portions, and

said shell portion extending downward from said side portions of the loop and comprising two divergent flat side panels and bracing means for stiiiening them and assisting in holding the legs within the shell.

2. The herein described bracketmember for connecting the legs to the beam of a mechanics horse, said bracket comprising a socket portion for receiving horizontally therethrough and therebeyond the end of the beam and aidownwardly projected and laterally flared integral shell portion for receiving and holding the upper ends of two of the legs, said Vshell portion of the bracket -1 Vcomprising two flat side panels diverging downward from each other and against the inner faces of which the legs are adaptedv to be received, said shell including also integral rigid straight strap members extending transversely and horizontally between the lower ends of the side panels and having inwardly projecting lugs on their inner faces co-operating with the edge portions of the legs to confine said legs from movement laterally in any direction, and a V'shaped rib constituting a partition in the upper end of the shell to form sockets for the ends of the legs.

`3 In` a mechanics horse, the combination with a top beam, supporting legs for the end portions of the beam, and means to secure the legs to the beam, of longitudinal brac` ing means between the beam and the legs, said bracing means comprising a one-piece brace member having at its center a flat horizontal portion, means including a lixed flat plate to anchor the central flat portion of the member to the bottom portion of the beam, the end portions of the member being extended from said lat portion in inclined directions between the legs, and means to connect the ends of the brace to the legs.

4. In a mechanics horse, the combination with a top beam, supporting legs for the end portions of the beam, and means to secure the legs to the beam, of longitudinal bracing means between the beam and the legs, said bracing means comprising a member, means to anchor the central portion ot' the member to the bottom portion of the beam, the end portions of the member being extended in inclined directions between the legs, and means to connect the ends of the brace to the legs, said anchor means for the central portion of the brace including a plate having a pair of spaced tongues between which and the plate the brace is adapted to be received by a swinging move-V ment.

5. In a mechanics horse, the combination with a top beam, supporting legs for the end portions of the beam, and means to secure the legs to the beam, of longitudinal brac ing means between the beam and the legs, said bracing means comprising a member, means to anchor the central portion of the member to the bottom portion of the beam, the end portions of the member being extended in inclined directions between the legs, and means to connect the ends of the brace to the legs, the means to anchor the members including a plate counter sunk iiush within the bottom of the beam and having a center bolt, the plate on opposite sides of the bolt being provided with a pair ot tongues parallel to and spaced below the plate according to the thickness of the brace, the brace having a hole to receive the bolt and around the axis of which bolt the brace is adapted to be swung into locking position between the tongues and the plate.

6. In a mechanics horse, the combination with a top beam, a pair of divergent legs for each end of the beam, and means to secure the pairs of legs to the beam, of longitudinal bracing means between the legs and the beam, said bracing means including two in-` clined end members, each end member extending between one pair ofthe legs, cross brace means between each pair of legs, and a separable fastener securing the end of the brace to the cross brace, the cross brace for each pair of legs comprising a double loop structure embracing the legs and having one straight side portion between the legs and the opposite side portion obliquely deflected so as to lie against the straight side and against which meeting sides the inclined brace end is secured.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

JAMESV FORESTER. 

